Tag: energy flow in an ecosystem

Questions Related to energy flow in an ecosystem

Multiple choice zoology energy flow in an ecosystem the energy pyramid ecological pyramid ecological pyramids

The energy pyramid is always _________-.

  1. Upright

  2. Inverse

  3. Horizontal

  4. Flat

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The flow of energy is always unidirectional. The energy passes from primary producers to primary consumers. From primary consumer the energy passed to secondary consumers and then to teritary consumers. Thus the energy pyramid is always upright.

Multiple choice zoology energy flow in an ecosystem the energy pyramid ecological pyramid ecological pyramids

In a food chain, if the grasses produce 1000 kcal of energy, how many kcal are theoretically available to the frogs?

  1. 1000

  2. 100

  3. 10

  4. 1

  5. 0.5

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When energy is passed in an ecosystem from one trophic level to the next, only ten percent (10%) of the energy will be passed on. We can consider a typical food chain in the environment. It can be written as follows. Sun -----> Green Plants -----> Insects -----> Frogs -----> Snakes. The sun provides the energy that is used by the green plants. The green plants are the primary producers for the food chain. The energy from the sun is converted by the plants into food. The insects are the primary consumers. They are the first animals to eat the plants. When they eat the plants and obtain some of the energy (10%) they stored when making food. The rest of the energy is lost and dissipated as heat. Insects are eaten by frogs. The frogs are the secondary consumers in this food chain. They obtain part of the energy stored by the insects. The remaining energy stored by the insects is lost. Thus, the correct answer is option C.